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Teacher Perceptions of Merit Pay: A Case Study

Waller, Paul James

Abstract Details

2019, Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), University of Dayton, Educational Leadership.
The purpose of this study is to identify and explore teacher perceptions of the merit-pay plan after six years of implementation in the Innovative School District (ISD). This qualitative case study will add to the knowledge base and provide interested school leaders with information as they consider alternatives to traditional teacher compensation. This study will provide similar districts, administrators, and scholars with insight into teacher perceptions developed after a merit-pay system has first been put into place and then remained in place for six years. As other school district leadership teams work with their teachers and boards of education to consider and develop a merit-pay system, they may be able to avoid pitfalls in the process of implementation by knowing the perceptions teachers have about this approach. This knowledge can also be incorporated into the curriculum of applicable higher education programs. This study employed a single case study approach to gain an understanding of the perceptions held by elementary teachers in grades Pre-K, one through six through semi-structured interviews. This researcher recognizes that knowledge gained from this study is relative and not absolute, but it will use empirical evidence to generate plausible claims (Patton, 2002). This approach is aligned with Merriam’s purpose for qualitative research, which is to achieve a deep understanding of how people perceive what they experience (Merriam, 2009). There were four major themes that emerged from this study. These included: A significant number of teachers in ISD do not have a solid understanding of the structure of the merit-pay program. Second, trust between the teachers and the principal are vital to the success of the merit-pay program. Third, ISD’s merit-pay program has been successful with a majority of teachers stating that if they had the chance to return to a traditional salary schedule, they would remain on the merit-pay plan. The final and most surprising theme revealed that teachers are concerned about the amount of time the merit-pay plan requires of the school principal. Teachers were concerned that the principal was now viewed as the “evaluator” instead of the symbolic leader of the building.
David Dolph, Ph.D. (Committee Chair)
157 p.

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Waller, P. J. (2019). Teacher Perceptions of Merit Pay: A Case Study [Doctoral dissertation, University of Dayton]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=dayton1570029933489107

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Waller, Paul. Teacher Perceptions of Merit Pay: A Case Study. 2019. University of Dayton, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=dayton1570029933489107.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Waller, Paul. "Teacher Perceptions of Merit Pay: A Case Study." Doctoral dissertation, University of Dayton, 2019. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=dayton1570029933489107

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)